The Story Of Ken Hubbs

by ambrosiadreams on Aug 4, 2009 3:48 PM CDT Comment 41 comments

In light of Randy Wells' stellar rookie campaign, I decided to do a little research to see if the Cubs ever had back to back ROY award winners, and as many of you can guess, I was stunned and saddened at what I found. I'm relatively young, and wanted to share this with other younger fans who may not know the story of Ken Hubbs. For the rest of you, please feel free to add your own stories and memories about this.

The Cubs did in fact have back to back ROY award winners on one occasion, as Billy Williams won the award in 1961 and Ken Hubbs did the same in 1962. From what i've read, Hubbs was primarily known for being a strong defensive player (he also won the gold glove at 2B in his rookie season). What's sad is that he was only able to play in two full seasons at the major league level, and his life was tragically cut short on February 13, 1964 at the age of 22.

Hubbs had a fear of flying, and decided to take flying lessons as a way of overcoming his fear. (side note: I'm assuming MLB teams chartered flights by that time, so Hubbs knew he was going to have to fly a lot) Hubbs' long time friend, Dennis Doyle, had recently become a new father, and his wife had traveled to Provo, Utah to visit her parents and allow them the opportunity to see their new grandchild. Doyle and Hubbs, who received his pilot's license a month earlier, decided to fly to Provo for the day to surprise Mrs. Doyle. The next morning, the pair departed for California in hopes of beating a storm, but never made it.

Hubbs finished his career hitting .247 with 14 HR's. He led all rookies in 1962 in games, hits, doubles, triples, and batting average. He also went 78 games (418) chances without an error, and started a triple play.

Hubbs wore number 16 for the Cubs, and that number was not again issued until 1967.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Actually, #16 wasn't issued again until 1970.

The Cubs had promised not to reissue it during 1964 — there was some talk it would be retired, but the Cubs didn’t retire numbers in those days.

The next player to wear #16 was Roger Metzger, a promising young SS who had no room on that era’s Cubs. He was eventually traded to Houston.

Hubbs’ talent was clear, even though he regressed in 1963 from his ROY year. That was a down offensive year and Hubbs was only 22 when he died. He might have become the prototype for the power-hitting middle infielders of the 1980’s had he lived — he was 6-2, 175, much taller than most 2B in that era.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 4, 2009 4:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

there was a great SI story about Hubbs about 10 years ago

It outlined a hypothetical scenario where Hubbs lived and the Cubs’ fortunes in the late 1960s were totally different — and that the team won multiple championships. There was a line from St. Petersburg second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who felt no one could fill Hubbs’ shoes in the eyes of Cubs fans.

by elgato on Aug 4, 2009 4:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

KInd of BS

since Glenn Beckert was pretty much the same player as Ken Hubbs. Hubbs’ death was tragic for his family, friends and fans, but it didn’t really impact the Cubs fortunes.

Now if the Giants had accepted the Cubs offer for Orlando Cepeda instead of the Cardinals, then I think we’re looking at a WS championship, some time between 1968 and 1970. Of course, that would have also meant a very ugly benching and probably trading of Ernie Banks.

by Josh77 on Aug 4, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What was the offer?

I don’t remember hearing about that.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 4, 2009 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dick Ellsworth

The Giants liked Ray Sadecki better. It’s in Golenbeck’s book.

by Josh77 on Aug 4, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I read Golenbock's book, but that was years ago.

… Sadecki was a better pitcher.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 4, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Golenbock book!

I grew up on Golenbock books.

Anyone?

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 4, 2009 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

glad I read ahead

Beckert was everything Hubbs was and Becekert did it for more than one season

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Aug 9, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember that

it was the first time I’d heard of Hubbs.

The story — really more of a one-page column — also talked about how the Cubs turned down the Brock trade and he was a part of the dynasty too.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Aug 4, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

fair enough

I don’t remember much more about it. I’ll take your word.

by elgato on Aug 4, 2009 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's the article

Link

by Jody Jody Davis on Aug 4, 2009 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Thanks Jody

Just read your link for the first time. I know it is fiction but did I ever enjoy that. The great irony is that I feel Ken would have been a very similar player to Ryno. I loved both of them during their playing days with the Cubs

by If we only had Hubbs on Aug 6, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

While I knew the story, I think it's a good post

For exactly the reason that you cited – not all fans do. Also, to keep stories of the team’s heritage going.

Occasional posts about the Cubs’ history could be interesting.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 4, 2009 4:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And in my best Steve Stone voice (before he flipped out):

For all you pilots and aspiring pilots out there – DON’T try to beat the weather. Take the time to consider what the consequences are if you don’t make the trip if the conditions are questionable. Can the trip wait?

It’s better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, then in the air wishing you were on the ground . . .

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Aug 4, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Usually these stories come up in the off season

I like hearing them. I’m only 20. To the writer of this post, I love these stories. Players like Hubbs you don’t hear about. Keep the stories coming if you have them.

"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher

by Musicdude10 on Aug 4, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good for you Music, It's nice to see younger fans who are interested in Cubs' history

If you really want to read some GREAT Cubs stories, check out the book that’s referenced above; it’s called “Wrigleyville” by peter Golenbock and it’s basically an oral history of the Cubs from 1876-to the 1990’s-enormously entertaining and informative

by bluekoolaide on Aug 4, 2009 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shameless promotion.

Another book to learn about Cubs history and read some fun stories is “Cubs By The Numbers”, written by me, Matt Silverman and Kasey Ignarski (who posts here as “kaseyi”.

You can order yours by clicking on the link on the right sidebar.

</shameless promotion>

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 5, 2009 8:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I believe I've read Hubbs story before, too.

But it’s definitely worth repeating – a wistful, tragic sidenote in Cubs history.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 6, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In an eerie coincidence

I just read the new biography of Thurman Munson by Marty Appel. I’d recommend it.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Aug 4, 2009 4:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ken Hubbs

He was an artist defensively. You could see his tremendous potential watching him make great plays. His offense was coming but he needed a couple of more years to develope. I remember a very cold snowy day when I heard the news he was tragically killed. It hurt. It really hurt.

The Cubs were getting better back then with Billy and Ken but they had the “college of coaches” running the club and this was a disaster. They made several poor trades too . The Brock trade was horrible but so was the Perranoski trade to the Dodgers for Don Zimmer. The memories are kind of foggy now but I remember Brock leading off one day with a triple against the Mets. Ken Hubbs followed with another triple.

Oh what could have been !

by If we only had Hubbs on Aug 4, 2009 10:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

To add to your post:

the “college of coaches” that you mentioned was featured by Al in his “Cubs can of worms” series. I believe there’s a link for this on the sidebar if anybody’s interested in reading about it further.

"Yes, dear. You're right. I'm sorry." -Bob Brenly

by ambrosiadreams on Aug 4, 2009 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

indeed

I always wondered what might have been. Had he lived, I think the Cubs would have kept Lou Brock or taken a straight up trade of one erratic young player for another in Bob Gibson. Oh, what a ‘69 rotation THAT would have been. I saw Hubbs play & he was indeed a slick fielder, who would have come of age as a hitter. From 60 thru 63 the Cubs actually were trying to build a young core of players , ( Billy, Santo, Brock, Hubbs, Ellsworth, etc. Kenny’s death cut the heart out of that team, especially since they were just coming off an 82-80 season. I once worked with a guy who knew Hubbs parents, and he told me Kenny was the kind of young man who always made them proud.

"It's a funny old world. Man's lucky if he gets out of it alive." W.C. Fields

by KedzieKid on Aug 4, 2009 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a bit younger than most on this board...

and have never come across this story. Thanks for sharing!

This season IS over. -BLou 6/30/09

by Kansas25 on Aug 4, 2009 10:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I was so young, really I was

I don’t remember seeing him play. But I remember Jack Brickhouse always bringing Hubbs up in discussion in the following years. Had he lived — I don’t see that there would have been much change in the Cubs fortunes for the rest of the 1960s.

The Cepeda scenerio is something I’ve never heard of — that, would have meant something. As much as Ernie Banks is beloved, he was at the tail end of his career when the team could have won something.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Aug 5, 2009 1:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hubbs played in the first major league game I attended.

I do have memories of this game, though I can’t say I specifically remember him.

He didn’t do much that day — 0-for-2 with a walk. None of the Cubs did much that day. They got shut out on two hits.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 5, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then I probably saw him play

but don’t remember. I also attended my first game in 1963, v Milwaukee. It must have been in July/August. I do know it was a weekday. I’ll have to go back and at least pinpoint the series.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Aug 6, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cubs played the Milwaukee Braves at Wrigley...

… on July 16, 17 and 18, 1963. That was the only time the Braves were at Wrigley in July/August of 1963, so it had to be that series.

Hubbs played in all three games. On July 16, Hubbs hit a home run for the only run in a 1-0 Cubs victory.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 6, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

interesting Cubs fact

The day that Ken Hubbs debuted with the Cubs, Sept, 10, 1961 was also the debut game for Hall-of Famer Lou Brock

See what old Cubs Scorecards looked like at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/scorecards.html
Also, see the Cubs 2009 schedule at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/sched2009.html

by kaseyi on Aug 5, 2009 1:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Naturally, they lost.

How did they get 7,628 people to come to a game between two teams that were that bad?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 5, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

… four Hall-of-Famers (Brock, Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, Robin Roberts) played in that game, and it should be five (Ron Santo).

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 5, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Well said Al. If Kenny had turned into the player we knew he would be there would be six ! (including Ronny of course).

by If we only had Hubbs on Aug 5, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There was no Internet.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 6, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would Hubbs have been as fondly recalled if not for his tragic death?

Doubtful. He was a slick fielder but he was not much of a hitter. Maybe his career would have followed an Ozzie Smith trajectory and he would have learned to hit, but it is just as likely if not more likely that he would not have. Yes, he won the ROY, but his numbers dropped off significantly (offensively and defensively) in his second full season.

His death was tragic but realistically, he was not that great of a player.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Aug 7, 2009 8:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

he was not that great of a player.

OK sonny and how would you know this. From your stats ? He came up at 20 years of age. Now think what being in the Majors was like back then. The pitchers were brutal. This is the era before free agency. The opposition hated your guts. All Hubbs did was break Doerr’s fielding record, hit 24 doubles and 7 triples by the age of 21. He was going up against Gibson, Marichal, Drysdale, Koufax etc…..

Be honest here. Did you ever actually see him play at Wrigley ?

by If we only had Hubbs on Aug 7, 2009 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sonny????

Look at Hubb’s batting numbers the year after his rookie season, they stink. He had one good season and one not so good season, even his defensive numbers dropped sharply in his second season. If he had not died tragically you assume he would have gone on to be a good or great player. I maintain we have no idea what he might have done, it is just as likely he would have continued to hit poorly and he would have been out of baseball in a few years anyway, or at best he might have hung around as a good field no hit utility guy, like Andres Blanco.

One final note: no, I never saw Hubbs play at Wrigley, you got me there, oh but wait, I did see him play the Giants at Candlestick … does that count?

Seriously, if you want to fantasize Hubbs into some sort of wonderful ballplayer, go ahead, but it is not reality based. Like the Bears’ Brian Piccolo, his tragic death causes some to remember him to be better than he actually was.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Aug 9, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He had one good season

Boy are you jaded . He won ROY, a gold glove and broke a fielding record that was in place for years. I talked to Ron Santo about Ken at the Cubs Convention and he certainly would not agree with you on this. He said Ken had tremendous athletic ability and would have been a great player. Ask him sometime. Maybe he doesn’t know what he is talking about either.

by If we only had Hubbs on Aug 9, 2009 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What other good season did Hubbs have then?

Yes, he won the ROY award and the next year, his numbers dropped off precipitously, and then he tragically died. Would he have turned it around? Who knows? All we know is the guy had one very good year followed by one not so good year. Obviously he is your hero, fine, but a clear-eyed look at his body of work (not jaded, just looking at the facts), indicates he was just as likely to be the next Jerome Walton, another ROY winner with tremendous athletic ability, as a great player. His tragic early death has cause many like you to make more out of him than there was. That is not being jaded, just factual.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Aug 10, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs